a piper too

The Crimes of Boko Haram, the "Lord's" Army, ISIS and Miscellaneous War "Lords"

No matter what we think about the theory of Karma, we can recognize that it is our past which shapes us. On the other hand, while we live, we are capable of learning, especially from our own mistakes and the unintended consequences of our actions.

Leaders past and present of forces who have seized power for their own ends must quake in their boots when they try to sleep at night, as must their followers, should they consider the negative impact the effects of Karma on themselves. The bullet or sword will come back to strike them: Those who rule in this manner shall themselves be cut down and suffer the humiliation of capitulation. It is then that they shall grovel, and beg for mercy.

Currently we are in the grip of irreligious "religious" maniacs, and/or violent secular or ideological opportunistic "thugs" wishing to impose themselves on others, while carving out violent fiefdoms for themselves.

It is heartbreaking for ordinary people to day in and day out witness the horrors shown to us on the media, as the thugs of Boko Haram, the so-called "Lord's" Army, ISIS, and even government army militia's etc rampage around the globe, killing and maiming as they go. These cringing curs often hide behind children to take most of the risk, to do most of their dirty work, and hide their faces too to avoid recognition. There is nothing religious in forced conversion ! There is nothing religious in any of that. Nothing gallant either.

It is time for the world to expose their dastardly deeds, to say "NO ! Not in my name ! Not in God's name ! If you continue to rape and pillage and commit foul bloody murder, then you can stuff your "beliefs" right up where it is sure to hurt ! I'm throwing away my prayer beads and head scarves (or whatever we now see to be redundant in our lives); I shall stop attending synagogue, church, mosque or temple, and/or occasions of pomp and ceremony ! I shall stop having intimate relations with you, for you do not deserve my respect or love. This must be earned. You do not deserve to have children !"

But whatever it is that we feel called to do, we can also learn by our own research into the human condition, as recorded by history. This can only be a lot less than half true, even if it does include her story as well. "History" is most often written by the victors; other relevant facts are diminished and "swept under the carpet" for as long as possible, so that myths (the stuff of fanciful legends) around our "glorious past" have time to coalesce, to take shape, so that the awful Truth is hidden.

We must read "between the lines" of "both", the stories of the victors, and of the fallen, and of the machinations and power plays which go on "behind the scenes", which create the conditions for conflict and wars. On another forum, I have just written about Tom Hyland's article "There was nothing glamorous about the reality at Gallipoli", which appeared recently in an Australian newspaper, to counter the theory that Australia's ANZAC legend is (somehow) "glorious", 100 years on.

Having almost finished reading the books "The Price of Valor" by John Hamilton about WW1's fiasco's, and "Wolfram - the Boy who went to War" by Giles Milton about WW2, simultaneously, I am reminded of the phrase used by Steptoe Senior (of the satirical British "Steptoe and Son" series) about his Army days, saying of himself that "we was lions led b donkeys !".

That certainly "nails" the leadership as "the donkeys", but fails to appreciate that "the lions" themselves were fools to be led by donkeys.... Only fools would allow themselves to be led by donkeys ! But in the end, we can only pray that our children will not be so misled.

Wars are founded on misery, blood and muck. Lest we forget !

Wolfram's story covers WW2 and the rise of Hitler's evil in Germany. The parallels between what I am reading and what is taking place now in the Middle East and all over the place, where fiefdoms are being created, ruled over by brutish bullies. Their rise at every stage is perpetuated by the myth of the "holiness" of war.

This concept is staggering, mind blowing, and - tragic - for all concerned - and tears down what has taken generations to build up. There is an ugliness and depravity in war which cannot be denied.

"The Sorrow of War" by Bao Ninh c 1993, ISBN 0 436 31042 2, is another must-read, this time about the "blood, sweat and tears" and "lost love" that was his hell in Vietnam. Of it he says:

1. War is a world with no home, no roof, no comforts. A miserable journey, of endless drifting....
2. Memories of war are always close by, easily provoked....
3. Mad killing and brutality warps soul and personality....
4. How cruelly they were twisted and tortured by war....
5. In all my time as a soldier, I've yet to see anything honourable.
6. Fallen soldiers share one destiny, no longer honourable or disgraced, heroic or cowardly, worthy or worthless, but now merely names and remains. For some of the dead, not even that. Over a long period, over many, many graves, the souls of the beloved dead silently and gloomily dragged the sorrow of war back into thinking remembrance. This is the howling echo of Love's lament.
7. It is not for you to die uselessly for the needs of others.
8. I live in this shell of loneliness, with no one paying attention to me, and me not noticing others.
9. A human being's duty on this earth is to live, not to kill.

That is why I do not ever celebrate Anzac Day. When I do go though, I go to "remember the lesson" and to meet up with my mates who got through this thing called war; to remember them and our lost family members as they were, not yet world weary, not yet ground down. Innocents placed between a rock and a hard place.

Bao Ninh's experience, and those of the Anzac's and Wolfram was certainly more vivid than mine, but as a thinking breathing, loving person, I felt it nevertheless. And determined to do something about it.

That is why I am "here with you" as a blogger at Nigerian Village Square, and "as myself" at linkedin's "Interfaith Professionals" and at "TransConflict" etc to witness to the Truth: "Prayer" (Good Intention) equals "Kind Action", no less.

The balance of equality's "Peace and Harmony" can only be achieved when Government and Religious Leaders (who are called to serve their people, rather than to oppress them), along with all men, women and children of Good Will, take what is good and right into our hearts, and say "NO !" to the bullies.

Comments

Synagogue, church, mosque, temple, and state leaders must speak out, with secular leaders against these depravities of excess and mayhem, or lose their credibility. The time to act is NOW. TOGETHER ! UNITED AGAINST A COMMON FOE, A BLIGHT WHICH WILL OTHERWISE PLUNGE OUR WORLD BACK INTO THE DARKNESS OF FEUDAL TIMES, OR WORSE. The time to act is NOW !

Stop Press !
The Chair of the Board of CPWR (The Parliament of the World's Religions) Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid said today that "as forces of hate, anger and fear are rising in the world, we must strengthen the interfaith movement by sharing our interfaith experiences and building relationships among faiths and across interfaith networks"..., and announced that the Parliament should be held every two years to address these issues.
An announcement detailing the launch of this timetable will be released soon.
(see http://www.parliamentofreligions.org...eid=b8b335ebae ).